Rabada's favourite dismissal of the series

Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada was named player of the series for taking 23 wickets in South Africa’s 3-1 Test series win and says his controversial dismissal of Steve Smith in Port Elizabeth was the pick of the bunch.

With Australia 1-98 at lunch, Rabada trapped Smith lbw for 25 in the afternoon session on day one at St George's Park to spark a collapse of 5-21 – all captured by the express paceman – as Australia were bowled out for a sub-par total of 243.

Most will remember that dismissal not for the way Rabada thundered an inswinger into Smith’s back pad, but how the pair brushed shoulders as the speedster passionately celebrated the breakthrough.

That one moment sparked national outrage as Rabada was deemed to have made deliberate and inappropriate contact with the Australian captain by match referee Jeff Crowe, whose sanction on the quick led to a two-Test suspension.

Rabada fought the ban and, at an independent hearing two days out from the third Test, had his charge changed and his penalty reduced, allowing him to play out the series.

"I think the Steve Smith one," Rabada said when asked what his favourite dismissal of the series was.

"Because we were a bit behind after lunch so we need that spark.

"After that, that’s when the momentum started rolling for us."

Rabada has acknowledged his wicket celebrations – that have landed him in hot water in the past – have changed, but that sometimes it’s out of his hands.

"I don’t think I always celebrate like how I did against Steve Smith," he said. "It’s just what’s in the moment.

"At times, I give a casual celebration but I am truly happy, however sometimes in a big moment it just fires you up and you can’t control it.

"Obviously, I’ve made an effort not to get banned."

Rabada was also asked for his favourite moment of the whole summer, which included Test victories over Bangladesh and India, and said it was the way the Proteas rebounded after the 118-run first Test defeat at Kingsmead that stood out for him.

"As a team, after we lost in Durban, it would have been so easy for us to disintegrate and not be connected, and how we stayed in the fight was my favourite moment," he said.

"That’s why we’re sitting here victorious in the series.

"We could’ve been scared or nervous, but even though we lost on that day, day five in Durban, the guys were really upbeat.

"We knew we were going to beat these guys."

After his 11 wickets in Port Elizabeth, Rabada was elevated to the top of the ICC’s Test bowling rankings, a mantle that sits well with the 22-year-old.

"Am I comfortable with it (being No.1)? Well, yes I am, because I wanted to be the best," the right-armer said.

"I wanted to be the best when I started playing the game. It’s one of the ambitions you have as a player.

"So now, I guess the rankings say that I’m there but I just have to keep doing what I keep doing and to see how long I can stay there."